More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)

Cooperative Party

Political party resulting from a decision of the Cooperative Congress, in Swansea in 1917, to ensure that the interests of the *Cooperative movement were represented in parliament. One of the first group of Cooperative candidates was elected in 1918, and he allied himself in the House of Commons with the Labour party. It was the beginning of a long and close link between two parties with many shared interests, though the Cooperative party had a particular concern for the consumer. They soon made a formal alliance, agreeing to sponsor some joint candidates both at Westminster and in local government. As a result the Cooperative party has had a low profile with the public, but in every parliament there are a few MPs taking the Labour whip whose affiliation is officially described as Cooperative-Labour or Labour-Cooperative.